Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-07-30 i Cape Argus

Sihle Mavuso sihle.mavuso@inl.co.za THE KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has declared a provincial State of Disaster due to the magnitude of the economic and human damage caused by the recent civil unrest. The decision was taken at an Executive Council meeting chaired by Premier Sihle Zikalala, during which the matter was deliberated. In a statement yesterday, the province said: “The current estimated costs of damages and relief required for the sector departments is R1 534 026 832.96, whereas the municipal damages require R47 733 460.37. The interim financial implications are R1 581 760 293.33.” “The Executive Council also noted that the financial implications for the damages and recovery costs had still not been finalised. It was resolved that with the work done so…

Shakirah Thebus shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za A FIRE at the Cape Town office of the public protector did not damage any investigation files, the Chapter 9 entity says. Head of Communications, Oupa Segalwe, said the City Fire department extinguished the fire. “Staff are safe and no investigation files have been lost. The building is leased through Public Works. We have informed the department to bring this incident to the attention of the landlord. The department’s regional office will assess the extent of damage.” Segalwe said the office did not yet know the cause of the fire. He said there was a fire at the office a few years ago. The City’s Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Jermaine Carelse said a storeroom and documentation were damaged. “The City’s Fire and Rescue Service responded…

Mthuthuzeli Ntseku mthuthuzeli.ntseku@inl.co.za THE Animal Welfare Society (AWS) of South Africa is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a Manenberg cat serial killer responsible for the brutal slaying of 21 cats over the past few weeks. AWS spokesperson Alan Perrins said although there was no clear motive for the killings, three cats had been exhumed and sent for a post-mortem. He said despite their efforts and media coverage the senseless killing spree had escalated in numbers and intensity. Perrins said over the past 48 hours four cats had been found disembowelled. Perrins said Manenberg police refused to pursue the matter until a “credible witness” came forward, or until the suspect was handed over. “This is unacceptable and represents a contravention of National Instruction…

Mayibongwe Maqhina mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za ACTING head of Crime Intelligence Lieutenant-General Yolisa Mokgabudi, formerly Matakata, is tipped to be the next head of a division that has had 10 acting heads over the past decade. National commissioner Khehla Sitole revealed this while responding to questions during the meeting of the police portfolio committee. Briefing the MPs, Sitole said the process of restructuring the crime intelligence division was complete. He also said the restructuring committee had recommended Mokgabudi to head the division, and that he had ratified the recommendation. “The matter will soon be finalised and immediately escalated to the minister,” Sitole said. But, Police Minister Bheki Cele said he had learnt about the pending appointment of Mokgabudi for the first time in the meeting with the MPs. Cele said there may be…

MICHAEL BAGRAIM | Cape Town IN reference to, “Unpaid salaries: union mulling action against Denel”, July 27 edition: The union knows full well that the Labour Court can sometimes take up to two years for matters to be heard and adjudicated. The CCMA is swift and structured for unpaid salary disputes. Would it not be much wiser for a dispute of this nature to be referred to the CCMA for an outcome within 90 days? The employees of Denel, like all other employees, live on their salaries from month-to-month and to have had no payment since May is disastrous.…

AN INSPECTION of the municipal tariff increases published by the City reveals some shocking facts. It is customary to reflect an increase as a percentage. This provides an accurate indication of the magnitude of an increase. However, instead of using percentages, the City used the actual increases in cents. For example, on its pamphlet on tariff increases for 2021 on its website, under electricity for Home User Consumers for the range 0 to 600kWh, it is stated that the tariff has been increased by 25c per kWh, which raised the tariff to R2.09 per kWh. Similarly, for consumption exceeding 600kWh, the tariff has been increased by 34c per kWh, which places the new tariff for this band at R2.89 per kWh. But the City fails to state that the tariff…

Rebecca Walker, Jo Vearey and Nichola Maple Migration is increasingly recognised as a determinant of health. Research shows that, in many cases, cross-border migrants arriving in new countries are healthier than the host population. But the advantage often falls away as non-nationals encounter discrimination and challenges in accessing documentation, support services and employment. Covid-19 illustrates how refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people and migrants are being left out of pandemic preparedness plans. We have been conducting research exploring access to Covid-19 vaccines across the continent. Our findings and a case study of South Africa highlight the issues of vaccine nationalism, vaccine exclusion and hesitancy, and their likely effect at the population level. Our investigation highlighted how migrants and refugees are being excluded. First, migrant populations have simply not been…

Turkey is offering to protect Kabul’s strategic airport after US forces leave in what experts view as a high-risk bid to improve Ankara’s strained ties with Washington. Keeping the air hub safe from advancing Taliban forces became a major issue after US President Joe Biden called an end to Washington’s 20-year involvement by ordering all troops out of Afghanistan by the end of next month. Hamid Karzai International Airport offers the safest route for embassy staff and humanitarian aid to reach the war-torn country. Its fall could leave Afghanistan largely cut off from the world. Ankara’s surprise proposal gave Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a chance to build a rapport with Biden during their first meeting at a Nato summit in June. The offer meets two of the Turkish leader’s…

Beit Ummar: Clashes broke out yesterday between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians at the funeral of a Palestinian boy killed the day before in the occupied West Bank. Mohamad al-Alami, 12, died on Wednesday after being shot by Israeli soldiers while travelling in a car with his father. Yesterday a procession followed the boy’s body through the streets. Later, hundreds of Palestinians threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who responded by firing tear gas. The Israeli army said that on Wednesday, its soldiers had attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle. “After the vehicle did not stop, one of the soldiers fired toward the vehicle’s wheels,” the army said. “We are looking into the claim that a Palestinian minor was killed as a result of the gunfire,” it said. | AFP…

WYNONA LOUW wynona.louw@inl.co.za JUAN de Jongh will lead a strong Western Province team against the Blue Bulls in their Currie Cup clash at Newlands this evening (7pm kick-off), while Warrick Gelant will make his return from injury off the bench. Gelant will make his return to action after eight months on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament last November. The injury, of course, ruled him out of selection for the Springboks' three-Test series against the British & Irish Lions, which the tourists currently lead 1-0. De Jongh, who returned to the Cape earlier this month, lifted the Currie Cup trophy at Newlands in 2014 and will lead the team following the unavailability of regular Currie Cup captain Ernst van Rhyn through injury. There is only one change to…

Sisonke Mlamla sisonke.mlamla@inl.co.za A POORLY-WORDED circular has caused panic among teachers who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19, and who fear they might lose their jobs. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has been blamed for its “confusing” circular to schools last week and which has been shared on social media. Progressive Principals’ Association spokesperson Anthea Adriaanse said there was no reference in the circular to teachers losing their jobs if they declined the vaccine, but it stated that while the DBE respected the rights of teachers who declined, it reserved the right to subject them to the procedures as stated in the Labour Relations Act read in conjunction with the Employment of Educators Act. “What is questionable in the circular is the requirement that those who were not vaccinated…

Kailene Pillay kailene.pillay@inl.co.za Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo had to continuously remind top KwaZulu-Natal cop Colonel Welcome Sithembiso Mhlongo that he was a police officer and under oath as he gave evidence related to allegations that he plotted to oust former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Mxolisi Nxasana in 2013. Mhlongo gave evidence at the Zondo Commission yesterday, where he responded to allegations made against him by his former colleagues Queen Mhlongo and Terence Joubert – who were then with the Asset Forfeiture Unit and an NPA risk specialist respectively. The duo has alleged that Mhlongo was working in cahoots with former Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, Nomgcobo Jiba, to “dig up dirt” on Nxasana to have him axed. Joubert, who had shared an office with Mhlongo at the…

Allan Wolman | Tel Aviv, Israel Like all government departments that takes time to react – mainly after the fact, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) issued a press statement only on 28 July condemning the AU for granting Israel observer status in the organisation. This announcement was made more than a week ago and Dirco only reacts now. Is anyone surprised – like earlier this month the ANC government woke up after the facts of rioting and looting. But given that the country was under level 4 lockdown, one can excuse this inept government as clearly all departments were “working from home”, including foreign affairs, the police and army. Will the AU decision-making body take any notice of South Africa’s objection? It seems not but…

NEWS reports on the violence and looting of the past weeks have made way for reports on taxi violence. The war between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association and Congress of Democratic Taxi Association since the start of July disrupted the lives of several Cape Town communities, including that of a 5-month-old baby caught in the crossfire and wounded during a shooting in Khayelitsha. At the heart of the feud lies a route between Bellville and Paarl. The provincial government closed it for two months to restore peace and allow the warring parties to reach agreement. Senior political leaders brokered a shaky ceasefire and hope for a settlement is high. Hidden among these reports was a story of looting at a tuckshop, also in Khayelitsha. Two boys were arrested after a…

Shakirah Thebus shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za THE provincial Department of Health has warned that this weekend could have a devastating impact on an already threatened health system, because the month-end and the lifting of the ban on alcohol sales could result in a spike in trauma cases. Health Department head Dr Keith Cloete said the capacity of health services was under threat, with more than 80% of high-care and high-flow nasal oxygen Covid-19 beds occupied and a 200% increase in pre-Covid-19 hospital oxygen use in the public sector. Cloete joined Premier Alan Winde, Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo and Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation chief operating officer and Professor of medicine Linda-Gail Bekker for the weekly digicon on developments around the Covid-19 pandemic yesterday. “If anybody is injured this weekend because of trauma, there is…

SOUTH Africa is facing a national crisis – the most catastrophic since entering democracy. We have a government that has lost touch with its people; a governing party fraught with factionalism; a disparate group of opposition parties; a security cluster paralysed by the recent uprisings; a health-care crisis; an economic group that is shockingly silent; constant service delivery protests, and the list goes on … In short, we have a leadership crisis. A candid assessment of the ANC will demonstrate it has become so factionalised that it is incapable of leading. After more than 100 years, the venerable party that led the change to democracy has lost its currency. As a person, our president is very likeable. But as affable as he is, he has failed to lead. There is…

Six civilians including several children were among 19 people killed yesterday in the fiercest clashes to rock Syria’s Daraa province since it was captured by the government, a war monitor said. Artillery shelling by regime forces on the village of Al-Yadudah, northwest of Daraa city, killed a woman, her child and three other youngsters, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Regime artillery fire also killed a sixth civilian in the district of Daraa al-Balad further south, according to the Observatory. The deaths bring the toll for yesterday’s clashes to a total of 19 across the province, which is in southern Syria. The figure includes at least eight Syrian regime fighters and five gunmen affiliated with former opposition groups, the monitor said. Russian-backed Syrian army and allied forces…

BOGOTA: About 9 000 migrants are stranded in a Caribbean municipality in Colombia amid a surge of people passing through on their way to north America after the re-opening of international borders, the Colombian migration agency said. The migrants – mostly Haitians but also Venezuelans and Cubans, as well as a number from African countries – are stuck in Necocli, in Colombia’s Antioquia province, migration agency director Juan Francisco Espinosa said. They hope to move on through the Darien Gap towards Panama, and then to the US or Canada. Colombia reopened its land and river borders with Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Panama in May, after a 14-month closure. It opened its border with Venezuela early last month. | Reuters…

Springboks WYNONA LOUW wynona.louw@inl.co.za WITH so much at stake in the second Test between the Springboks and the British & Irish Lions, the Boks simply have to get the win to stay alive in the series, while the Lions will be driven by this simple fact: If they secure another victory over the world champions, they have claimed the series. Last week, the tourists claimed a 22-17 win at Cape Town Stadium in the opening Test, so the pressure is on the hosts as they have everything to lose if things don’t go their way in the second fixture. So, with that in mind, here are five players who could have a big say in how things go down in the Mother City tomorrow (kick-off 6pm). Handre Pollard He was…

WYNONA LOUW wynona.louw@inl.co.za THE Springboks have said it: their backs are against the wall going into the second Test of the Series against the British & Irish Lions. And that alone makes them dangerous. With the tourists having defeated the Boks 22-17 in the opening Test at Cape Town Stadium last week, the South Africans will simply have to win this one to go 1-1 up with the Lions and ensure they stay in the running to claim the series. Speaking during a team announcement press conference for the second Test earlier this week, Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber – who named three changes to the starting line-up for the must-win encounter – said that they needed “just five more points” to come out on top in the second fixture…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za UNHAPPY SA Revenue Service (Sars) employees have hauled its commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, and Finance Minister Tito Mboweni to the North Gauteng High Court demanding that they increase their salaries. The Public Servants’ Association (PSA) wants the court to enforce a three-year salary agreement signed in 2019. The move followed Sars’s decision not to increase salaries in the 2021/22 financial year, despite having implemented the agreement in 2019/20 and 2020/21, and giving an increase of 8% and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 2%, in both years respectively. In terms of the agreement, the taxman’s employees were expected to receive wage hikes of the CPI plus 2% from April this year. Last week, Statistics SA announced that annual CPI was 4.9% in June. PSA acting general manager…

Rob Johnston | Tokai I have huge respect for Brian Isaacs’ knowledge and experience in education and schooling, and generally agree with what he writes in your column “Education Matters”. But I disagree with his opposition to the proposed UCT Online Private School (Cape Argus, July 29) – I think every initiative that reduces the load on our high schools is to be welcomed. It may greatly benefit pupils who can’t travel, but do have access to the internet. Yes, he makes the valid point that they must be watched, to ensure ethical UCT acceptance practise with respect to their online pupils, but let’s give it a chance. After all, pupils are as different in personality and ability as adults,…

Mthuthuzeli Ntseku mthuthuzeli.ntseku@inl.co.za A DURBAN man of 21 is turning his loss and grief into hope and inspiration by using his sports talents to run and raise funds to benefit abused and vulnerable children in Cape Town. Matthew Grobler will be running 32km around his house on Saturday, aiming to break his 4-hour 54-minute time of last year, to raise funds for Molo Songololo and in honour of his aunt Estelle Morck, who died of Covid-19 earlier this year. Last year, Grobler raised more than R10 000 for Molo Songololo and this year he said his target was to raise R32 000. Grobler said he wanted to continue his aunt’s legacy of helping people, especially children, and he was also inspired by the work Molo Songololo was doing. “I know…

Mthuthuzeli Ntseku mthuthuzeli.ntseku@inl.co.za THE chief executive of Haven Night Shelter, Hassan Khan, is expected to meet Strandfontein residents over his intention to place 100 extra beds in the ID Morkel homeless facility, a move some residents oppose. Following the Strandfontein Ratepayers Association opposition to this, the City has halted its support. Strandfontein ward councillor Elton Jansen said the 100 extra beds at the facility during the pandemic were problematic. He said the arrangement between the Protestant Church and the shelter was also irregular as it was in contravention of the lease agreement which does not support sub-leasing. “I was not consulted as a councillor, nor was the Ratepayers Association. There are existing challenges with crime and loitering in the Strandfontein area. Where the proposed temporary site was situated we…

Chapter 2 of the Constitution advocates for freedom of expression and states that “everyone has the right to freedom of expression”, and that this right includes the freedom to hold opinions, receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority. The unrest that gripped the country through acts of looting and violence two weeks ago, as well as the constant disinformation machine on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, are undoubtedly reconstructing the concept of freedom of speech. We have seen this through the state’s effort to clamp down on various individuals who have been identified as primary instigators of this unrest. This includes the arrest of former Ukhozi FM presenter Ngizwe Mchunu, who yesterday was granted R2 000 bail. Some of his bail conditions include…

Tsunami warnings were lifted for Alaska and the rest of Pacific after a huge earthquake of 8.2 magnitude struck the seismically active US state in the late hours on Wednesday. In Alaska, small tsunami waves measuring under 30cm above tide level were observed in Sand Point, Old Harbor, King Cove, Kodiak, Unalaska and Alitak Bay, said the US National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC). There were no reports of injuries or damage to property. Several Alaskan coastal communities were evacuated following the quake. Among them was Seward on the Kenai Peninsula, south of Anchorage, where residents were told to move to higher ground. The US Geological Survey said the quake was at a depth of 35km. It struck about 91km east-southeast of Perryville, about 800km from Anchorage, Alaska’s biggest city.…

KAMPALA: A move by Uganda’s government to install digital tracking devices on vehicles to help fight rampant crime has been denounced by rights advocates and the opposition who say it will be used to monitor activists, government opponents and critics. Ugandan authorities signed an agreement with a Russian firm to install digital trackers in all vehicles in Uganda. President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, has said his government wants to use hi-tech tools like CCTV cameras and digital trackers to help fight and solve crimes. Opponents say such mass surveillance would erode individual privacy rights, and international rights groups have accused him of using security forces to clamp down on opponents. | Reuters…